Client Overview
Our client has grown to become a leading retailer with approximately 1,500 stores worldwide. This particular retailer is a market share leader in both the U.S. and Japan. Domestically, it operates the largest free-standing destination toy and baby specialty stores. The company is strongly focused on strengthening the customer shopping experience by providing merchandise and improved customer service levels.
Project Description Summary
Our client identified the need to upgrade from Manugistics NetWORKS™ Transport Version 6.2 to Version 7.2.1. This upgrade would also include the following components: NetWORKS™ Carrier, NetWORKS™ Freight Payment, and NetWORKS™ Monitor.
The primary business objectives of this upgrade were to:
Perform technical upgrade of Manugistics, AIX, Oracle and Weblogic components
Implement further enhancements to business processes and potential cost savings via new functionality, as deemed appropriate
Provide platform for additional enhancements to be implemented by the client at a later date
The primary requirements of this upgrade were:
Functional equivalence of Version 6.2
Completion of upgrade within 10 weeks from the project start date
Role and Approach
MEB Consulting, a sub-contractor to Manugistics, partnered with Manugistics to upgrade NetWORKS™ Transport for this client. MEB Consulting was responsible for all application work.
A team was created that consisted of a combination of application, technical, and project management skill sets. The team was further supported by client resources with the following skills: business process, technical, application, project management, and executive guidance. Quality reviews were scheduled periodically throughout the project to ensure that the upgrade was on track to meet budget, time, and quality expectations.
Results / Accomplishments
Some of the key results of this initiative included:
Installation of Version 7.2.1 for the following modules: NetWORKS™ Transport, NetWORKS™ Carrier, NetWORKS™ Freight Payment, and NetWORKS™ Monitor in a Development environment. Additionally, the Web DSW, Web Order Entry and Web Freight Movement components were also installed.
Migration of database from Version 6.2 to Version 7.2.1.
Installation and setup of PC*Miler version 18.
Application Training on the incremental differences from Version 6.2 to Version 7.2.1 for NetWORKS™ Transport and NetWORKS™ Carrier.
Training for the new web components (DSW, Order Entry, Freight Movement Entry).
Application Training on NetWORKS™ Monitor.
Implementation of the following functional enhancements:
- Multi-stop intermodal planning
- Contract Resource Management
- Improved usability features
- User Defined Freight Movement statuses
- Individual Accessorials Breakdown
- Interim-stop Accessorials
- Carrier Auto-Accept / Carrier Response Types
- Pro-Active Alerting
